By Mark Van Deventer
The featured race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 16 November is the Cape Mile, an exceptionally strong Gr 3 where the average merit rating of the ten runners is 115. It is carded as Race 7 with an off time of 15h25.
Let’s go through each entry, in card order:
- SOLAR POWER is a brave six-year-old, Dynasty gelding that has overcome physical setbacks to post five wins from 23 starts. He is at his best on soft going. But he won’t get that ground on Saturday, and he now faces way stronger company. The inside alley will aid his cause, but he seems in too deep here off a below par, OMR of 97.
- RASCALLION returns from another leg injury. He is reportedly working well and has a good record racing fresh. His record withstands scrutiny having been placed multiple times in Gr 1’s from a mile upwards, and he is a Gr 2 winner at this course. His Summer mission is the World Sports Betting Cape Town MET, a 2000m race where he finished a valiant second in January 2023. He will, as always, give his running but is likely to be done for finishing speed by elite, specialist milers.
- ZAPATILLAS’ career best is finishing three lengths off awesome, Charles Dickens in the 2023 Gold Challenge when giving the champion miler 1.5kg’s. Since then, Brett Crawford has tried to correct some physical issues, with the Master of My Fate gelding being raced at intervals without making much of an impact. On a more positive note, he figures to get the run of the race here as a handy type with a low draw and must be respected third run after a gelding.
- PROMETTERE has been contesting Class 3 events so this is a steep hike up the class ladder. He comes in with the lowest weight of 54kg’s and will be staying on purposefully off the likely brisk pace over a suitable course and distance. But that OMR of 95 makes him the lowest rated entry with plenty to find on more accomplished rivals.
- HLUHLUWE found his niche as a top-notch three-year-old with a series of fine runs over this C/D – beating Snow Pilot in the Selangor, running third to that rival in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, then clocking in six lengths off Charles Dickens in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. He didn’t quite reproduce that level of ability during the KZN Winter, though he recorded very sharp closing sectionals at his last start there in the Champions behind HOTY Dave the King. He could do better again back on his happy stamping ground, but a burden of 62kg’s poses a daunting assignment.
- MONTIEN is the key pace factor in this race. He is a formidable galloper with a resolute style who is hard to get past if allowed too much freedom up front. His seasonal debut over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville behind Questioning was encouraging and as a lightly campaigned five- year- old he is teed up for a productive season in top tier events.
- SUGAR MOUNTAIN cannot be faulted for consistency and sports an excellent winning strike rate of eight victories from 27 starts. He will be finishing with determination as usual yet falls short on the figures needed to duke it out with the best of this field.
- ITSRAININGWILLIAM has an OMR of 108, which is ten points below SUGAR MOUNTAIN. Another knock against his chances is that he prefers seven panels and his record after a break (just one score from five tries) is somewhat unconvincing. All those “cons” suggests he will be out of his depth.
- ROYAL AUSSIE on the other hand absolutely loves 1600m; won the Drill Hall Stakes first up after a rest and has an OMR of 124 after running out of his skin from a wide draw behind Charles Dickens in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. Those “pro” factors put him on the short list of probable winners for the Cape Mile.
- GIMME A PRINCE is top rated by some margin off his stellar OMR of 130 and the horse to beat. He is not easy to train due to soundness issues but when all parts are in working order, he is sensational between 1200/1400m. This is the first time he stretches out over eight furlongs and a wide draw of 10 means he will in all probability be dropped out and ridden for luck. His turn of foot is brilliant however – if he is not too far out of his ground at the top of the short stretch then he has the turbo power to blast past his foes.
Summary:
GIMME A PRINCE comes with a few conditioning and stamina queries but the way the weights are framed rates a clear favourite in the Cape Mile, as part of his build up to the Gr 1 LÓrmarins King’s Plate on 4 January 2025.
In what shapes up as a compelling tactical test, he will need to run down forceful pacesetter, MONTIEN and proven high- class miler, ROYAL AUSSIE.
ZAPATILLAS and RASCALLION can mix it with the best around, plus both should get smooth commutes given the speed map. Together with a possibly resurgent, HLUHLUWE they are listed next on the rankings as place possibilities.
